Recent CR1/IR1 filers approved - Australian Police Certificate with or without fingerprints?!

[B & G 200]

I am just about to go stir crazy with the conflicting information I am getting about an Australian National Police Certificate. Maybe someone here can help me clear it up.

I am an Australian citizen thats been living in Greece for the past 14 years. Now I know that I require an Australian Police Certificate but which one do they really want.. name check or fingerprints?

Almost every post I have read on here says that they require a fingerprint check, but for the life of me I can't find that actually being stated on any official US website.

The reciprocity table for Australia http://travel.state.gov/visa/fees/fees_5455.html?cid=8957 states:

"Police certificates are required for each visa applicant aged 16 years and older. Applicants are required to apply for a Police certificate ensuring that the certificate addresses all known names and/or aliases.

For information on how and where to apply, please refer to the table below according to your current place of residence.

If you are applying through the New South Wales or Queensland police, your police record will be sent directly to the U.S. Consulate in Sydney. The Criminal Records Section of their offices will notify you that this has been done. If you do not receive this notification within 4 weeks of your application, we strongly recommend that you ascertain the status of your records by checking at the police station where you initially made your request."

The US embassy site for Australia http://canberra.usembassy.gov/iv_faqs.html#police states:

" What type of Australian police check is required?

Depending on which Australian state or territory in which you reside will depend on how to apply for the Australian police certificate.

You only need to apply for 1 Australian police certificate and it can be based on a name or fingerprint check.

A police check based on name check only must contain all aliases previously and presently used. Failure to provide a name check certificate with all aliases may result in the consular officer refusing your application for a police certificate based on a fingerprint check."

So which is it? the reason why I am asking is because the procedure to get fingerprints done in Greece is hugely complicated!

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.

[NikLR 13,227]

Were you ever arrested or charged in Australia? If the answer is yes, you'll need a fingerprint check, if the answer is no then you likely just need a name check.